Airplane amusement device



Nov. 25, 1947. L. E. REED l2,431,4?1

AIRPLANE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Ooi. 27. 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M @md Nov. 25, 1947. l E, REED I; 2,431,421

AIRPLANE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 27. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @gym Nov. 25, 1947. E. REED 2,431,421

AIRPLANE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 27. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE AIRPLANE AMUSEMENT D EVICE Lawrence E. Reed, York, Nebr.

Application October 27, 1944, Serial No. 560,596

7 Claims. l

This invention relates to an airplane amusement device, and has forv one of its objects the production of a simple and eicient means for supporting and operating a plurality of vehicles simulating airplanes. in a manner whereby the vehicles will be easily controlled and whereby the amusement device will possess a maximum amount of safety.

Another object of this invention is the vproduction of a simple and eflicient means for rotatably supporting and bracing the operating tower.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient means for automatically releasing the driving power from the operating tower when a predetermined rotation of the tower has taken place.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the amusement device, certain duplicated parts being eliminated;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the base of the device;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse sectional view of the track-way and roller-supporting means for the tower;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the roller-supporting elements and track-way:

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of one of the roller-supporting elements;

Figure 6 is a side elevational View of one of the vehicles and suspending means therefor;

Figure 7 ls a fragmentary top plan view of the driving mechanism and the supporting means for the tower, certain parts being shown in section;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan vlew of the amusement device, certain parts being eliminated;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the central supporting standard, a portion of the lifting jack also being shown;

Figure l0 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a portion of one of the extension arms, illustrating the latch therefor;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of one of the sweeparms and bracing means;

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a portion of one of the sweep-arms, illustrating the connection between one of the sweep-arms and vehicles.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that Il) designates the platform-supporting base upon which is mounted a circular runway II preferably formed of a plurality of segmental 2 plates which are bolted lor secured in any desired manner to the radiating bridge-work members forming the platform-supporting base near their outer ends. Aninner circular track-way I2 is supported neary the center of the converging bridge-work members forming the base I0 and these members are joined at their centers toa suitable spool or central connecting member I3.

The track-way I2 is bolted or firmly anchored upon the base I0, and carries upon its inner Iface a track rail I4 the upper and lower faces of which converge and extend inwardly at an angle -diverging rollers I8 which extend at diverglng angles of 45 degreesv to each other and freely roll upon the upper and lower faces of the rail I4. Each shoe II is provided with laterally extending flanges I8, connecting straps 20 being secured to these flanges I9 for connecting the respective shoes I'I in radial spaced relation, as shown in Figure 7.

A suitable ring gear 2I is secured to the inner faces of the shoes I1 and the anges I9-see Figures 3 and 4. This ring gear 2I is engaged by a driving gear 22 which is driven by any suitable chain of gears from a source of power supplied from a drive belt 23 through the pulley 24. The driving mechanism for the drive belt 23 may be controlled in any suitable manner. The pulley 24 is carried by a shaft 25 upon which is mounted a suitable clutch 26 which renders the cam wheel 21 selectively active or inactive at the will of an operator. Any type of clutch may be employed for this purpose, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A jack 28 of the conventional hydraulic type is carried centrally of the base I0 within the tower T and circular track-way I2. The jack 28 supports the overhead sweep supporting standard 29, and the standard 29 is adapted to be elevated as the pump 30 of the .jack 28 is operated by the rotation of the cam wheel 21, which wheel 21 is carried by the shaft 25-see Figure 3. The pressure from the jack 28 may be released by an operator actuating the conventional valve 30 'from a suitable location of control.

The upper end of the standard 29 supports the 'a plurality of radiating sweep-arms 32.

overhead sweep mechanism 3|, which comprises These arms 32 are braced by suitable guy braces 33 which are secured to the top of the standard 29, as at 34. The outer ends of the arms 32 carry a circular lamp reflector strip 32a upon which are mounted a series of lamps 35. The standard 29 carries a vertical key 3S which slides through the upper guide I6 of the tower T to permit vertical movement of the standard 29 and at the same time tie the parts together for unitary rotation.

A plurality of vehicles 38 simulating airplanes normally rest upon the circular run-ways and are connected to the sweep-arms 32 by means of suspension chains 39, there being one sweep arm to each vehicle or airplane. The upper end of the chain 39 is connected to its companion arm 32 slightly inwardly of the vertical or perpendicular plane. An extensible bracing and propelling arrn 40 is connected to'each vehicle or airplane 38 and is hinged at its irmer end to one of the uprights of the tower T as shown in Figure 1. A bracing chain 4| is connected to each arm 32 and to its companion propelling arm 40 just below to assist in relieving side strain upon the arms 40 and 32. The upper end 4| of each chain 4| extends to the next adjoining sweep-arm 32, as shown ink Figure 8, in this way tying the sweeparms 32 together near their outerends. The latch 43 normally holds the extension rod 44 of the arm 40 in a set position, but as the arm 40 is swung upwardly, the latch 43 will be released by the pull upon the link 45 and permits the rod 44 to move outwardly of the arm 40 as centrifugal force causes the vehicle 38 to swing outwardly. As the parts return to their normal positions, the latch 43 will engage the rod 44 and latch the rod in the position shown in Figure l0. Each arm 40 is braced by a brace 40B, the brace 4l!a being connected at one end to the arm 4|) near its outer end and the brace 408L is pivotally connected at its inner end to the next adjoining upright of the tower T. Crossbraces of a suitable type shown in Figure 11 are interposed between the arms 40 and their companion braces 40* to strengthen the parts.

It should be understood that a vehicle such as an airplane 38 is suspended from each of the sweep-arms 32, similar to the vehicle shown in Figure l, and as the amusement device picks up speed, the centrifugal force will cause the vehicle or airplane 38 to be lifted from the runway These vehicles are arranged in spaced relation radially around the tower T, and as the planes 38 revolve and gather momentum the rear tail wheel slowly lifts from the runway until the plane is in a horizontal position with only the front wheels on the. runway, thus simulating an airplane in its take-olf. As the speed increases the entire plane rises well above the platform and at a selected height all 'of the planes are released and swing or ily outwardly due to centrifugal force, and as the arms 40 are swung upwardly the pull on the link 45 will release the latch 43 and permit the rod 44 to extend outwardly. When the power is cut off or the power is released from the sweeps 32, the planes will swing back to the normal positions as they slow down and will slowly descend until the front wheels strike the runway I followed by the rear wheels of the vehicle or plane 38. In this way, an airplane ride will be provided having features designed to break up the monotony of the usual merry-goround ride, and the sensation to the occupants of the vehicles or airplanes will be similar to that provided by an airplane in flight. Furthermore,

in view of the fact that the vehicles or planes 38 normally rest upon the runway Il they may be easily entered by children or others while the airplanes are at rest.

When the jack 28 elevates or lifts the standard 29, the load of the vehicles or planes 38 is carried by the lifting chains 39 and the'se vehicles will swing outwardly as the tower T rotates and gains momentum. However, when the vehicles 38 return to their normal position, so that they rest upon the runway I l, these chains 39 become slack and the arms 32 come into play and pull the vehicles 38 around the runway Il. These arms 32 are secured to the tower T in a manner as shown in detail in Figure ll to brace themselves against the natural drag of the vehicle 38 on the platform or runway Il as the vehicles are pulled around the runway I.

It should be noted that the chains 4| which are connected to the arms 32 and 40 also at their upper ends span the distance between the arms 32 to tie these arms 32 together, as at 4la. to give rigidity to the sweep-arms 32. It should be further understood that the extension rod 44 of each sweep-arm 32 is of sufllcient length to permit of a proper extension as the vehicles 38 are swung outwardly and at the same time enough of the rod 44 remains within the arm 40 to hold the extension rigid. When the vehicles 38 rest upon the runway the chains 4I remain taut, but as the vehicles 38 rise and swing outwardly the outer ends of the arms 40 rise thereby causing the chains 4| to become slack. When the vehicles 38 again descend upon the runway II, these chains become tight enough to be used as a bracing unit for all of the sweep-arms 40.

It should be understood that as the source of power is applied, the tower T revolves, carrying the vehicles 38 around the runway Il. The hoist is thrown into operation and when the vehicles rise to a predetermined position, the latches 43 automatically release the extension rods 44 permitting the vehicles 38 to swing to a flying position until the main driving clutch is released to allow the device to revolve free of the driving power and gradually come to a stop. The vehicles 38 will drop upon the runway just before the device comes to a full stop. The lamp-sary rying reflector strip 32, the tower T, the vehiclesf 38 and connecting parts all revolve together. A' suitable canopy may be carried over the reflector strip and tower if desired for decorative effect.

As shown in Figure l, the post l5 of the tower T may be braced by means of suitable diagonal races cr'nposed of turnbuckles and the like.

It should be' understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims',

Having described the invention, what iS claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising a supporting tower, sweep-arms carried by and radiating from said tower, a runway surrounding said tower, driving means for rotating said tower, ve-

hicles normally resting upon said runway, ilexible means suspending said vehicles from said sweep-arms, said vehicles being adapted to be lifted and swung outwardly from said runway by centrifugal force created by the rotation of said tower, and radiating bracing arms secured to said tower and to the vehicles for assisting in moving the vehicles upon said runway.

2. An amusement device comprising a supporting tower, sweep-arms carried by andV radiating from said tower, a runway surrounding said tower, driving means for rotating said tower, vehicles normally resting upon said runway, ilex- -ible means suspending said vehicles from said` ing tower, sweep-arms carried by and radiating from said tower, a runway surrounding said tower, driving means for rotating said tower, vehicles normally resting upon said runway, exible means suspending said vehicles from said sweep-arms, said vehicles being adapted to be lifted and swung outwardly from said runway by centrifugal force created by the rotation of said tower, and radiating extension pivoted bracing arms secured to said tower and to the vehicles for assisting in moving the vehicles upon said runway.

4. An amusement device comprising a supporting tower, sweep-arms carried by and radiating from said tower, a runway surrounding said tower,` driving means for rotating said tower, vehicles normally resting upon said runway, exible means suspending said vehicles from said sweep-arms, said vehicles being adapted to be tower, radiating bracing arms secured to said tower and to the vehicles for assisting in moving the vehicles upon said runway, additional flexible means connecting the sweep-arms with said radiating bracing arms and connecting the sweeparms together, latch means for holding said bracing arms in a retracted position, and means for releasing said latch means when said bracing arms reach a predetermined position.

5. An amusement device comprising a supporting tower, Vsweep-arms carried by and radiating 'from said tower, a runway surrounding said tower, driving means for rotating said tower,

35 lifted and swung outwardly from said runway by l centrifugal force created by the rotation of saidvehicles normallyresting upon said runway. ilexible means suspending said vehicles from said sweep-arms, said vehicles being adaptedto be lifted and swung outwardly from said runway by centrifugal force created by the rotation of said tower, a standard vertically adjustable through said tower, said standard directly supporting said sweep-arms, means normally keying the standard and tower together, a lifting jack for vertically lifting said standard, and means eo-operating with said driving means to automatically actuate said Jack.

6. An amusement device o'f the class described comprising a base, a tower rotatable upon the base, a track-way carried by the base, a trackrail extending inwardly of the track-way, rollers carried by the tower and engaging the track-way above and below the track-rail for rmly holding e the tower upon the track-way, a runway surrounding the' track-way, vehicles normally mounted4 upon the runway., sweep-arms carried by said tower. means connecting said vehicles with the sweep-arms for lifting the vehicles from the runway as the tower rotates, and extensible bracing arms connecting the vehicles to the tower.

7. An amusement device of the class described comprisinga base, a track-way carried by the base, a tower rotatable upon the track-way, a plurality of shoes carried by the tower, a track-rail carried by the track-way, rollers carried by said shoes engaging opposed faces of said track-rail for bracing said tower, a ring gear engaging said shoes, and driving means engaging the ring gear for rotating said tower.

LAWRENCE E. REED.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,289,427 Ferris Dec. 31, 1918 I 1,706,441 Daughs Mar. 26, 1929 2,364,699 Eastman Dec. 12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date 316,219 Italy f--- Mar. 27, 1934 

